A Veteran and a Rookie Prepare for the JD Classic

The PGA Tour is back in the Quad Cities this week for the John Deere Classic. The annual tournament is being held at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, where it has been since 2000.

Zach Johnson speaks to reporters during a press conference at TPC Deere Run.

Credit Zach Wilson, WVIK News

Zach Johnson, the 2012 John Deere Classic winner and a two-time major champion, is no stranger to this course. The 43-year-old Cedar Rapids native will make his 18th appearance at the tournament this week. Johnson says this is an event he always has circled on his calendar.

"I'm very familiar and I'm very excited. I love everthing about this week, this tournament, this golf course, the people, and certainly what this tournament does for the greater Quad City community. I'm ecstatic to be back."

In contrast, 22-year-old Collin Morikawa is making his first appearance at TPC Deere Run this week. After tying for second place at the 3M Open in Minnesota last weekend, he has earned temporary PGA Tour status for the rest of the season. Having recently graduated from college, he says he is thrilled to compete against the best the sport has to offer.

"I think it's cool to play along these guys and that's what I want, to play against the best players in the world. I'm not going to step away from that challenge. I want that challenge, and I want everyone to play well, I just want to be playing just a little bit better than them."

At opposite ends of their careers, both Johnson and Morikawa are hoping for a victory this week. The John Deere Classic tournament will take place Thursday through Sunday.

Michael Kim is looking forward to defending his title at the John Deere Classic in July. This morning at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, last year's champion talked with reporters more than one month before the PGA Tour tournament.